Golf mojo

[revkev]

As I've stated in some other threads my game has deteriorated, particular my ball striker the past two years. At my best over the past 25 years I wasn't a long hitter but over the first four months of this year I was really short and also inconsistent, probably twenty yards with the driver and a club and a half with the irons.

 

After five lessons and a new set of custom fit irons I've got my distance back and a good deal of my consistency. In literally the last three weeks I've gone from being neck and neck off the tee with my league partner to 30 yards longer than him.

 

What hasn't retuned is my scoring. It's a little something here or there, a missed short putt, a hooked hybrid or tee shot, that's getting me into trouble. I feel as if I just need one little break, a ball to catch a lip and drop, a chip in, a great kick on one heading somewhere bad and it will all turn around.

 

Right now my golf mojo sucks. What do you do when you seem to be doing lots so stuff right but the scores aren't adding up in your favor?

[hckymeyer]

I've been in a similar position over the past month.  I shot my low round of the year so far and actually shot even on the front nine that round.  Then proceeded to not be able to hit a golf ball for the next two weeks.  I don't mean I took two weeks off either.  Everything was topped, chunked, balloon faded, pull hooked etc...  It was pretty bad.  Over the past week I've tweaked my swing a little bit to get back to how I was swinging at the beginning of the season and my ball striking has really come around.  My scores really haven't much though. 

 

My takeaway is just to focus on the ball striking and not worry about the scores.  I know if I keep on this trajectory and keep hitting the ball well the scores will come around.  I just keep telling myself I've already weathered the worst part of the storm and good weather is just around the corner.

[GolfSpy WD]

I just keep playing. I don't find the range to be helpful at all. If I'm practicing, it's either a pitch and putt or the practice green.

 

This is the summer of suck for me. I went through a terrible spell in March, followed by breaking my wrist and not playing all of June. My last round my swing finally started clicking again. My putter went south, but hopefully with more rounds under my belt I can get into the groove again. At this point I'd just like a round sub 100. Then to be consistently in the 90s like I was last season. Then break 90 and so on.

[BIG STU]

Well I have been playing good lately and hitting the ball great thanks to my new irons. Today I went through my regular practice routine of putting and then pitching and flop wedges before going on the range. I got a large bag (about 75 balls) and went through my routine. About half way through my routine with the 6 iron I started hitting the ball funny. What the heck?? My buddy walked up and asked "why are you looping the club again?" That was one of my old natural tendences that I have worked hard to get rid of but for some reason it took back over. I quit for a while and ate lunch went back out and hit the ball fine with no loop. Cant figgure that one out. I am playing a highly competitive match tomorrow with some great players and I hope it does not creep up again. when I was younger and had faster hand speed it was ok but now I have gotten older and my hand speed and swing speed has gotten slower I cant manulipulate the club like I used to

[jaxbeachpackerfan]

Rev--lucky for you, almost everyone I've played with in the last four times out has flirted with career low nines or rounds (or won the tournament).  Can you hold out till next Wednesday?  You should be fine then!!!

[revkev]

Rev--lucky for you, almost everyone I've played with in the last four times out has flirted with career low nines or rounds (or won the tournament).  Can you hold out till next Wednesday?  You should be fine then!!!

Now that would be one for the ages. I have my league mid season Saturday but that's a scramble. I'm also playing Sunday afternoon so we will see what happens there.

 

The shots that are killing me are huge hooks with the hybrid and missed short putts many of which are borderline gimmes in a casual round. That and my chipping is so so leaving too many of those kind of putts. Perhaps the golf fairy will produce some magic for me in the form of an alternate gap wedge. I hit the Wilson great but the face is too hot to chip with.

 

We are talking a swing and a couple of missed putts that turn 75 into a struggle to break 80.

[Kenny B]

What are you focusing on?  Each shot as it comes?  Or the score?  If you think you need certain shots to happen to get a good score, then your focus is on the score and not on the shot.  

 

Look up the Law of Attraction.  "I attract to myself, whatever I give my focus, attention, or energy to; whether wanted or unwanted."  

 

If you think about not getting good scores, you'll not get good scores.  Focus on your good shots, and the score will take care of itself.  Remember, "There's a force in the universe that makes things happen, and all you have to do is get in touch with it.  Stop thinking, let things happen and Be the ball."  

 

We all go through it, and it will last until you quit thinking about it.

 

All the best (while I go figure out my chipping problem).

[revkev]

What are you focusing on?  Each shot as it comes?  Or the score?  If you think you need certain shots to happen to get a good score, then your focus is on the score and not on the shot.  

 

Look up the Law of Attraction.  "I attract to myself, whatever I give my focus, attention, or energy to; whether wanted or unwanted."  

 

If you think about not getting good scores, you'll not get good scores.  Focus on your good shots, and the score will take care of itself.  Remember, "There's a force in the universe that makes things happen, and all you have to do is get in touch with it.  Stop thinking, let things happen and Be

 

We all go through it, and it will last until you quit thinking about it.

 

All the best (while I go figure out my chipping problem).

I really like this piece of advice. You can well guess what I'm thinking about and it is score. When I'm playing well I'm sometimes surprised by my score. Not right now.

 

The Scramble may be very helpful because it is out of the ordinary.

[mnfats95]

Whenever I get in a funk and start playing poorly I let go. I repeat in my head that it's a game and it doesn't matter. Normally this helps take all of the pressure off of me and I come around within a round or two. Sounds really simple, but for me it works every time. I start taking myself too seriously and it snowballs into poor play. Once I can remember that I'm there for fun it all comes back.

[markb]

I'm in pretty much the same position. Over the past 18 months I've fixed everything in my game. I know the drills & routines for each component, from driver to  putter and can do them. But the scores don't always materialize. I've shot a 66 this year and a 90.  Any given day I can score from 72 to 82 and to me it feels like I'm doing everything the same. So I just don't worry about it anymore.

[RookieBlue7]

Buy a Bluetooth speaker and play it on low in the cart as a relaxation technique. Sure some stuffy people will say something even if you can't hear it from 5 feet but hey, if you wanna make an omlette you gotta crack a few eggs right?

[revkev]

Rookie will get a good laugh at this observation.

 

I think that another issue that I'm having is because I'm taking lessons I'm a bit too mechanical right now.  I'm worried about my swing instead of focusing (not worrying) on the shot at hand and its desired result.  The swing has come along enough that I should be able to see the shot I need, dial it in and go ahead and hit it.

[kygolfer1980]

2 beers before the first tee. Repeat at the turn. U are a good player, sounds like ur confidence is just a little down. I'm sure u will be back soon. Best of luck!

[markb]

Well, the lessons explain it.   Any time my pro makes me implement a swing fix, it's a full MONTH of practicing it before I start to see results.   In the meantime, score is a mess.

[revkev]

2 beers before the first tee. Repeat at the turn. U are a good player, sounds like ur confidence is just a little down. I'm sure u will be back soon. Best of luck!

I like this suggestion. I'm actually listening to Stevie Miller Matt and it reminds me of you because the Doc played him when I had my heart cath a couple of years ago. I know I'm strange. The guy I'm playing with Sunday afternoon will go for it so I'll try.

 

I know Mark I'm expecting too much too fast. I'm actually replicating a lot of very good swings on the course and that should be enough but I've usually been a guy who could find his way around the course.

 

I'm really hitting a lot of good shots, a slight pull with the short irons, solid draws with the mid irons, fairway woods and driver. The hybrids are somewhere between draw and too much draw. When I get a left to right wind I can't seem to get myself to set up for a draw and trust it. Instead I seem to start the ball at the target and over cook it. The course that I play regularly requires that shot a couple of time a round and I'm hooking it into the crap.

 

I just have to trust that it will draw or at least aim it far enough right that if it hooks I'm still in play until I get it totally straightened out.

[kygolfer1980]

I like this suggestion. I'm actually listening to Stevie Miller Matt and it reminds me of you because the Doc played him when I had my heart cath a couple of years ago. I know I'm strange. The guy I'm playing with Sunday afternoon will go for it so I'll try.

 

I know Mark I'm expecting too much too fast. I'm actually replicating a lot of very good swings on the course and that should be enough but I've usually been a guy who could find his way around the course.

 

I'm really hitting a lot of good shots, a slight pull with the short irons, solid draws with the mid irons, fairway woods and driver. The hybrids are somewhere between draw and too much draw. When I get a left to right wind I can't seem to get myself to set up for a draw and trust it. Instead I seem to start the ball at the target and over cook it. The course that I play regularly requires that shot a couple of time a round and I'm hooking it into the crap.

 

I just have to trust that it will draw or at least aim it far enough right that if it hooks I'm still in play until I get it totally straightened out.

Lol,  most of the docs I work with are cool about music.  We listen to alot of 80's hits, country, etc.  We have a guy that has been there about a year now that MUST listen to club music.  I'm talking Pit Bull,  stuff we don't care for.  I switched it to classic country the other day to aggravate him and he was cool until Conway Twitty started playing.  He asked me to turn it so I put it on Justen Bieber radio and left.  He is a good guy but we love messing with him.

[BIG STU]

Well I am a dyed in the wool southern born and bread redneck and I dont even care for Conway that much. But I guess I am an old rock and roll redneck

BTW us good old NC/SC boys could straighten out Justin Bieber trust me

[revkev]

Well I am a dyed in the wool southern born and bread redneck and I dont even care for Conway that much. But I guess I am an old rock and roll redneck :)BTW us good old NC/SC boys could straighten out Justin Bieber trust me

Promises, promises.

 

We finished 3rd in our scramble. I think it was helpful to be in a format where I didn't have to worry about my squirrelly shots. I hit a few but never at an important time and I was going last all day. I hit a couple of great drives, irons and a to die for 3 wood when no one had a ball in play. The 3 wood was from 220 into a breeze and gave us a 15 footer for eagle. At that time we thought we might get a skin but actually there were no skins. We voted to leave the 240 in the kitty for the season ending tournament.

 

We will see what tomorrow brings.

[sp0rtsfan86]

Honestly, I know what you mean. You feel like your hitting some really great shots and you look at the scorecard and it's a disaster. What's funny about golf is the opposite happens a lot too, you'll be swinging what you think is awful and look at the card and be shocked. 

 

Two things I've learned. Really go back and look at why you are struggling. Short putts are a killer, so I'd go take a look at them. I know for me if I don't putt well, I don't score at all. Make it a point to find out what is the trait that can decide a round. 

 

Secondly, relax, have fun.  Golf mojo can bounce at any time. I personally love to get excited at one shot and try to let that be the turning point. A few rounds ago I couldn't hit anything, but struck a perfect 7 iron to the middle of the fairway on a par 5. That sparked a par and a run of 5 pars and two bogeys. That lead to a few weeks of some great golf, which unfortunately ended. My advice: Never beat yourself up, but allow yourself to get positive at the littlest things.

[revkev]

Shot 77 today, was really going strong until the 3rd beer then made a few sloppy bogeys coming in.

 

Still didn't make ant putts.

[wbealsd]

I putt best when I'm able to shut my brain off and just use a short routine of looking at the shot, pick a spot, take my stance and hit the ball. When I lose my feel for putting, I spend a few hours on the putting green until I quit overthinking and get "the feel" back.

 

Overall, I try not to think about my mechanics much at all when I play and just focus on staying "in the present." I'm not a great golfer by any means, but that's the state of mind I have when I play my best.

[RookieBlue7]

I'll tell you something else that worked for me when I felt the mojo was gone.  I changed my preshot routine.  And when I say changed it, I changed it a LOT.  And I'm striping the ball now.  Everything but the driver and fairway wood I do the new routine with.  I waggle similar to Dufner does now over the ball.  At the end of the last waggle (and I waggle till it feels right) I touch the club behind the ball and immediately start back with it.  No time to think about the shot or the swing, just instinct.  And I've been puring a lot more shots directly where I want them.  The driver and fairway have come around a lot since we played in Tampa earlier this year and I'm KILLING the TS 3 wood off the tee right now.  So much so that the driver it practically useless except on long par 5's.

[revkev]

I'll tell you something else that worked for me when I felt the mojo was gone.  I changed my preshot routine.  And when I say changed it, I changed it a LOT.  And I'm striping the ball now.  Everything but the driver and fairway wood I do the new routine with.  I waggle similar to Dufner does now over the ball.  At the end of the last waggle (and I waggle till it feels right) I touch the club behind the ball and immediately start back with it.  No time to think about the shot or the swing, just instinct.  And I've been puring a lot more shots directly where I want them.  The driver and fairway have come around a lot since we played in Tampa earlier this year and I'm KILLING the TS 3 wood off the tee right now.  So much so that the driver it practically useless except on long par 5's.

I like this one and the last one too. Ironically I'm much more of a technical player but I look at the hole or a spot that I'm aiming at on my longer putts. I actually think that I need to slow down my putting routine a tick. I putted reasonably well in Saturday's scramble because I didn't know the greens. I had to spend an extra bit of time reading them. On my league course I know the greens so well but frankly the different pin positions we are getting this year means slightly different breaks. I missed two yesterday because I assumed rather than read.

 

To the full shot routine I have changed it up. I normally do not take a practice swing. My teacher suggested I take one and think of hitting a cut when I do. My "cut" swing produces a beautiful little draw. I was neck and neck with a big strong 26 year old kid most of the day yesterday. The only exceptions were one hole where I hit 3 wood and he hit driver, into a fairway trap, and when he hit the cart pat and bounced 40 yards past me.

 

I also picked up an xhot extreme 3 and 5 wood for almost nothing. I had a stiffer shaft in my fairways to flight them down. I like the aldila NV regulars in these much better and the trajectory on the 5 wood is just right for holding a green.

[kygolfer1980]

Well I am a dyed in the wool southern born and bread redneck and I dont even care for Conway that much. But I guess I am an old rock and roll redneck

BTW us good old NC/SC boys could straighten out Justin Bieber trust me

I wish we could just send him back Canada for good.  I'm sure Dan would love to have him back!

[kygolfer1980]

Shot 77 today, was really going strong until the 3rd beer then made a few sloppy bogeys coming in.

 

Still didn't make ant putts.

You crossed the line.  2 is the magic number...

[fozcycle]

Over the course of my 50 years of golf, when my game goes south, I am reminded of a little paperback book that I read when I was in my twenties....."Swing Easy, Hit Hard" by Julios Boros.

 

Although I can't remember any details from the book, the Title alone, gets me back in my game...."Swing Easy, Hit Hard". Julius Boros was a PGA Pro who won 18 times on the Tour, with Two US Open Wins(1952 & 1963) and One PGA Championship wins(1968).

 

and to this day, you can still get the book.....Amazon has several listings.

 

 

I simply remember the title of the book, "Swing Easy, Hit Hard", do what it says and my game comes back to me.

[revkev]

Well let me tell you youngster that Julie used to hit it past that tree up there!

 

I grew up on his home course. Got sick of hearing about him but he was a great. One of the few people to play in both the US Open Golf and Tennis tournaments.